Liveaboard Diving in Darwin Island

What to expect on a Darwin Island Liveaboard

Named after the famous evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin, Darwin Island, and Darwin's pillars, now unfortunately collapsed, is the most Northerly and remote outcrops of the Galapagos. They sit 40 km / 25 miles north of Wolf Island on the same mid-ocean ridge, making the bottom topography and current streams special around the islands. Darwin is incredibly small, only 1 km / 0.5 mile above water.

The island feels very remote and special when you are there, with your only company being the Galapagos National Park patrol and research boats. Land visits to Darwin and Darwin's Pillars are prohibited, and only a few liveaboard dive boats visit here. The underwater life is spectacular, with an unbelievable number of hammerhead sharks, tuna, silkies, and turtles, and chances to see tiger and whale sharks.

On the island and the pillars, you can see red-footed boobies, vampire finch, and fur seals. The waters around the island are highly protected due to the number of sharks and other large pelagics at risk from illegal fishing. Darwin Island is also a common location for the Galapagos National Park to tag hammerheads and whale sharks passing on the ocean currents.

Daily Schedule

Morning

The day will start early with two morning dives with breakfast in between. After the briefing, you will be dropped by panga tender around Darwin's pillars. All the dives will be done around the pillars, and where you are dropped will depend greatly on the surface conditions and the current.

With high swell and strong currents, Darwin's pillars are not for the faint-hearted but stunning. The waters are thick with sharks, rays, and tuna, and during the whale shark season, this is your best chance to dive with the giants. Dives normally last around 50-60 minutes, and the aquatic show is so spectacular you might find the time seems to go very quickly.

Afternoon

If conditions permit, you will have another two dives at Darwin. After lunch, everyone will be straight down to the dive deck, itching to get back in the water. Although there is technically only one dive site at Darwin, you will find that the different routes taken by the guides will give you a new experience each time. The pangas will drop you on a different side of the pillars and pick you up after your safety stops, which, with this many sharks and pelagics, will no doubt be in the blue.

Evening

If the conditions are very good in the evening, the boat might anchor in the island's shelter, but it will likely return to Wolf Island for the night. If you sit up on the deck, there will be a chance to see dolphins and sea birds, or you can enjoy looking over your endless shark videos instead!

Darwin Island Underwater

Darwin Island is one of those places where you can see anything! All the aquatic life you would feel lucky to encounter anywhere else is abundant here. The current channels around Darwin are like a pelagic highway at rush hour. The rock reef and plateau at Darwin are a viewing platform to see endless schools of sharks and rays of all sizes. Hammerhead juveniles are particularly curious, and the chances of a close encounter are good. Down on the sandy bottom is your chance to see hammerhead pups. Larger hammerheads carefully guard them and will shy away if approached.

Galapagos sharks are also around, and who knew there could be so many turtles in one place? During the season, you have a good chance of seeing whale and tiger sharks here, so keep a keen eye out for those spots and stripes. As if all that wasn’t enough, you can meet passing dolphins, sea lions, and even the occasional orca whale. Be aware the first sign of orcas is the sudden disappearance of all the other aquatic life. Most of the dives are between 10 and 25 meters, making Nitrox essential to make the most of your time with the sharks.

Top Tips for Darwin Island

  • The conditions at Darwin are rough, so be prepared for a negative entry from the panga.
  • Gloves are an absolute necessity, the current here his phenomenal and the barnacles are sharp.
  • Your 3-minute safety stop should be in the blue if at all possible, it is your chance to really get in the thick of the shark schools and maybe spot a whale shark too.
  • Stay close to your buddy and the group. The current here is not to be underestimated, and it is easy to get distracted by the marine life. You may even have to wedge yourself into the rocks to stop it from drifting.

Getting to Darwin Island

Most Galapagos liveaboards stop at Wolf before sailing to Darwin, although this depends on sea conditions. Darwin is very exposed to the elements, but liveaboards can shelter behind the island at anchor. The sail is only 40 km, but it can be a spectacular journey if you keep an eye out to sea. Pods of dolphins, sometimes breaching rays, and numerous sea birds can be seen from the deck. Divers will always be dropped at Darwin's pillars by panga tender, and it can be a wild ride with high swell and wind waves, which is the norm.


Darwin Island Diving Reviews

  • 9.0 Superb
  • 149 Verified Reviews
  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Jennifer R
  • United States United States

Once in a lifetime. Hundreds of hammerheads, galapagos sharks, 200 lb tuna, schools of jacks, and 2 whale sharks!!

Diving Darwin Island in August on the Galapagos Sky

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • cathleen B
  • United States United States

exquisite, simply the best, over to the top amazing, no words or pics could ever do it justice!!

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Laura R
  • United States United States

Same as Wolf. Just beyond imagination!

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Igor T
  • United States United States

When we were there, there was almost no current, and very few fish; so we decided to come back to Wolf instead and do more dives there.

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Steven W
  • United States United States

Spectacular - the huge schools of hammerheads and Galapagos sharks were an out-of-this-world sight!

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Gary W
  • United States United States

Superb, the Darwin Arch is worth the trip alone

Diving Darwin Island in March on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Patick W
  • United States United States

Great. Schools of hammerheads, lots of dolphins, green turtles. Schools of 5-stripe bass, big eyed jacks and blue-stripped snappers. Lots of yellow-tail surgeon fish, guinea-fowl puffers, green sea turtles, and parrot-fish.

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Nortada

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • John G
  • United States United States

Very good. Lots of hammerheads. Large garden eels (more like snakes). Water pretty warm in Feb. Did same dive sites at least twice.

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Nortada

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Amanda C
  • United States United States

It was good, lots of hammerhead sharks. Very strong current. Not as good as at Wolf.

Diving Darwin Island in June on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Greg A
  • United States United States

World Class - best dives of my long life!

Diving Darwin Island in July on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Ryan L
  • United States United States

Super strong current. So many sharks!

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Chadwick P
  • United States United States

My favorite spot on the trip but no whale sharks could be seen

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Maggie V
  • United States United States

Copious amounts of hammerheads

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Galapagos Sky

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Gregory G
  • United States United States

Amazing, hundreds of hammerheads, rays, turtles, bat fish , mola molas, scorpion fish and many more.

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Galapagos Sky

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Christopher H
  • United States United States

WHALE SHARKS! And of course, plenty of other sharks/rays/turtles/other life as well. Lived up to it's name as the best dive site in the world.

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • David D
  • United States United States

The diving at Darwin was a bit of a disappointment, strong currents, cold water, and not much to see.

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Galapagos Sky

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Cameron M
  • United States United States

The currents were strong and the visibility not very good. We kept moving more than I would have liked, but that may have been because of the water situation.

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Giancarlo D
  • United States United States

the best diving experience with some incredible underwater life and with warmer conditions made it the best spot

Diving Darwin Island in May on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Brett M
  • United States United States

Phenomenal. Not many places like it.

Diving Darwin Island in July on the Galapagos Master

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Thom M
  • United States United States

Great seeing so many hammerhead sharks and the whale shark.

Diving Darwin Island in August on the Galapagos Sky

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Donielle K
  • United States United States

Great! Whale shark on the full moon!

Diving Darwin Island in August on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Enrique F
  • United States United States

Stronger current, got to see sharks, big schools of fish, whale sharks.

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Ethan H
  • United States United States

Amazing. Whale sharks galore

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Kenneth B
  • United States United States

The best place. Can see whale sharks every dive

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Ellen A
  • United States United States

Amazing! Dove with the schooling hammerheads, Galapagos sharks, turtles, morays, large schools. When we were back on the panga a pod of orcas swam by us.

Diving Darwin Island in January on the Galapagos Sky

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Jennifer A
  • United States United States

Perfect - whale sharks and hammerheads at swing season

Diving Darwin Island in January on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Michael M
  • United States United States

Saw a whale shark and schools of hammer heads.

Diving Darwin Island in January on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Lauren R
  • United States United States

The BEST diving in my 22 years of experience! SO many whale sharks, hammerheads, dolphins, and more!

Diving Darwin Island in May on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Cindy P
  • United States United States

Darwin was at the top of the locations. Did 4 dives and saw whale fish on every dive, along with eagle rays, mobula rays and many other things.

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Christine T
  • United States United States

So many hammerheads, so little time.... Whale sharks too.

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Derek G
  • United States United States

Better conditions and more wildlife than at Wolf. Changed our itinerary to try and see Whale shark and on the last dive at Darwin - we did!

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Brandon S
  • United States United States

Amazing. We saw several whale sharks.

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Robert C
  • United States United States

One of our favorite locations. So many sharks, beautiful life. Dolphins

Diving Darwin Island in January on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Brady T
  • United States United States

Little murky but saw alot of wildlife

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Anna D
  • United States United States

Amazing, saw whale sharks, hammerheads.

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Ashley P
  • United States United States

Endless sharks! Stronger currents. Okay visibility

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Eli R
  • United States United States

Pregnant whale sharks, feeding hammerheads, galpagos sharks, silky sharks, tiger shark, hunting tuna, playing dolphins

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Tamara Ellen M
  • United States United States

Fantastic, plus the dolphins hung out around the boat--never have I previously showered with a view of dolphins out my window!

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Anthony M
  • United States United States

Darwin island had so much to see and the number of dolphins, sharks, and turtles was incredible

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • JAEKYUNG K
  • South Korea South Korea

excellent. u can see whalesharks almost every dives and almost more than once. sometimes u can see dolphins swimming through while your safety stop. dont stop looking around even on your safety stop.

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Thomas R
  • Germany Germany

same, incredible diving with many sharks

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Pelle L
  • Sweden Sweden

Hammerheads and dolphins, few dives with ok visibility.

Diving Darwin Island in January on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Ingo L
  • Germany Germany

Best divespot on this trip

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • seulky K
  • South Korea South Korea

Very very very very strong current. It was fun :-) I could see big whale shark also here!

Diving Darwin Island in June on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Geoff C
  • Australia Australia

I can't put into words how good diving with whale sharks was. We saw a whale shark, and everything everybody was taught about diving went out the window! I just hope I'm lucky enough to experience it again.

Diving Darwin Island in July on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Masato O
  • Japan Japan

I saw every big sharks in this point. Especially, hammer head .

Diving Darwin Island in August on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • DENIS C
  • France France

fabulous each time we saw whale sharks

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Anette S
  • Norway Norway

Best diving spot ever. A lot of life.

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Nortada

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Andreas S
  • Switzerland Switzerland

The best diving ever with a bunch of gigantic Whale Sharks, many Hammerheads and Galapagos Sharks.

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Galapagos Master

  • 7.2 Good
  • Charmaine H
  • Australia Australia

Whale sharks! (early November)

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Ulrike W
  • Austria Austria

great canal, masses of sharks, nice drift dives

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Nortada

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Sylvie S
  • France France

Amazing! Schools of hammerheads, balls of trevallies, silkies, Galapagos and whale sharks. So many dolphins seen from the boat.

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Galapagos Master

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Melanie H
  • New Zealand New Zealand

This place was incredible for hammerheads. They came super close at the cleaning station. Each one had maybe ten or eleven angel were heaps of turtles sleeping and the horxbille turtles. There was only one dive site, the Darwin arch. We dived five dives here in one day. Epic. Hammerheadville. One dive, we did a safety stop and could hear dolphins. When we were on the dingy back we saw them and that’s when we saw dolphins. The guides told us to put our fins on and swim! So we swam with dolphins twice! And we saw them on the safety stop on the last dive. Awesome! We also see octopus, mobular Rays, turtle cleaning, silky rays, hammerhead rush hour.

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Nortada

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Yee Hon C
  • Malaysia Malaysia

I can see how amazing diving here would be, but given we were here for only 1.5/2 days, we didn't get a much varied dives but I still loved the challenge diving at the Arch, and the activities here are just a whole other world altogether.

Diving Darwin Island in June on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • SOPHIE B
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Excellent - the best I have ever experienced

Diving Darwin Island in July on the Galapagos Sky

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Natsumi U
  • Japan Japan

Wonderful! We saw so many whale sharks and currents were mild.

Diving Darwin Island in August on the Galapagos Master

  • 7.6 Good
  • Eric F
  • Switzerland Switzerland

World top class diving, fishy, 4-6 Whale-shark sightings at every dive, plenty of Hammer-Heads, school of large sizes fishes...

Diving Darwin Island in August on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Yunmi H
  • South Korea South Korea

Fantastic, All kinds sharks, whale sharks, hammer heads, silkys, black tips etcetc

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Michael W
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Amazing to be surrounded by hammerheads and see the whale sharks

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Nortada

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Nanae G
  • Switzerland Switzerland

Good but less sharks than Wolf island, big surge and strong currents

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • EIKO S
  • Japan Japan

The best dive in this trip was at Darwin island to see a big school of hammberhead

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Vladislav P
  • Germany Germany

4 dives were wonderful, hammerheads, turtles, clouds of 'gringos', schools of jacks and sharks hunting them. Then 2 last dives rather disappointing, not too much to see

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Steffen B
  • Switzerland Switzerland

Amazing plays above and below water. We saw less hammerheads than at wolf but the dolphins were amazing

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Chong P
  • Malaysia Malaysia

Amazing but the water and the current was too cold and strong for me.

Diving Darwin Island in March on the Galapagos Sky

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Frank G
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Amazing to see Darwins Arch and some fantastic marine life

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Emma B
  • Australia Australia

The best! Loads of hammerheads, whale sharks and a tiger shark, but very strong current at times

Diving Darwin Island in May on the Galapagos Sky

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Fanny C
  • France France

Great. Lots of whale sharks and big schools of fish. Hammerheads

Diving Darwin Island in May on the Galapagos Sky

  • 7.6 Good
  • Daniel C
  • Australia Australia

great, again whale sharks, dolphins, massive schools of fish.... fantastic

Diving Darwin Island in May on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • claudio A
  • Austria Austria

The best dives of my life! We saw wale sharks on every dive!

Diving Darwin Island in June on the Galapagos Sky

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Cyrik C
  • France France

Un courant de malade! Mais alors quel spectacle. Presque un requin baleine a chaque plongée

Diving Darwin Island in July on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 6.4 Review score
  • Alvaro D
  • Spain Spain

Impressive, second round due in cold season for whalesharks.

Diving Darwin Island in January on the Calipso

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Sarah B
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Hit and miss. Amazing diving with the odd disappointing dive. Some strong currents.

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Todd Z
  • Canada Canada

Amazing, exceeded our expectations

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Alvaro C
  • Spain Spain

Even better than Wolf, with 3 different whale sharks.

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Li P
  • Canada Canada

Amazing. Lots of sharks and life

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Marcela V
  • Slovakia Slovakia

Whale sharks (pregnant), schools of hamerheads, jacks, turtles, eagle and golden rays.. A lot of everything! Somethimes I didn't know where to look first..

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • ales Z
  • Czech Republic Czech Republic

3 whale sharks but otherwise slightly worse than wolf

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Andre H
  • Switzerland Switzerland

Amazing with strong currents

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Nadine E
  • Germany Germany

Whale shark with every dive and great encounter with them.

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Calipso

  • 6.8 Review score
  • Alena Miriam S
  • Czech Republic Czech Republic

Whalesharks were cool, very little hammerheads, strong current

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Maya K
  • Canada Canada

This dive site is king of the ocean for whale sharks. Incredible

Diving Darwin Island in November on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 6.4 Review score
  • Luis L
  • Canada Canada

Incredible. In 2 days there we must have seen around 20 whale sharks, plus a ton of hammerheads and Galapagos sharks.

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 6.8 Review score
  • Andreas P
  • Germany Germany

Bad visibility, but great fish life

Diving Darwin Island in January on the Galapagos Master

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Domingo G
  • Spain Spain

Swimming with sea lions, some currents that day, cold at times, but simply great

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Muhterem Gokce Y
  • Turkey Turkey

Great, whale sharks, hammerheads

Diving Darwin Island in May on the Galapagos Sky

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Gerd K
  • Germany Germany

Fantastic. Saw many whale sharks, hammerheads and Galapagos sharks

Diving Darwin Island in June on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Gyula F
  • Hungary Hungary

Challenging conditions and bad visibility

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Calipso

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Julia L
  • Canada Canada

Absolutely mind boggling! The dive involved staying put in one spot to keep a look out for Whale Sharks but it was worth the wait every time.

Diving Darwin Island in October on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 6.8 Review score
  • Cecilia M
  • Italy Italy

Amazing hammered sharks and more

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Mariano C
  • Argentina Argentina

Lots of fish in Darwin's Arch, the highlight was a tiger shark and sea lions and dolphins.

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Galapagos Sky

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Joanne W
  • Australia Australia

Unusually rough seas with both currents and swell. Surf waves breaking on the shore. We had ti abort the last dive for safety and return to Wolf.

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Calipso

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Dmitrij Z
  • Germany Germany

Very impressive, although we were a bit unlucky with the conditions - the famous schools of hammerheads weren't there due to a lack of current.

Diving Darwin Island in March on the Nortada

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Mirko H
  • Switzerland Switzerland

In Darwin hatten wir ein wenig Pech und gar keine Strömung. Weniger Leben als gewöhnlich. Tauchplätze sind aber sehenswert.

Diving Darwin Island in March on the Nortada

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • paul P
  • Canada Canada

Not as good as Wolf. Was expecting more animals but the water was warm.

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • JANIS P
  • Latvia Latvia

good visibility, not many sharks due to warm waters

Diving Darwin Island in April on the Calipso Dive

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Steven C
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Below expectations, but still some hammerheads in distance. A lot of waiting around on rocks for something to happen, but not a lot happened.

Diving Darwin Island in June on the Galapagos Aggressor III

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Sandra J
  • Canada Canada

Saw a few very large whale sharks at Darwin.

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Jane C
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Amazing - 3 whale sharks in 2 dives and shoals of Hammerheads- Galápagos reef sharks

Diving Darwin Island in September on the Tiburon Explorer

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Daniel C
  • Australia Australia

Excellent, lots of Hammerheads and seals. Great viz.

Diving Darwin Island in December on the Humboldt Explorer

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Stephen B
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Very good saw unexpected whaleshark, thermoclines spoiled the perfect picture but amazing

Diving Darwin Island in February on the Galapagos Master